DAMN FINE NEWS

'Liberty should never be considered a luxury, it is a fundamental human right'

OPENING Thursday, March 10th from 6pmEXHIBITiON RUNS THROUGH TO APRIL 09 / 12pm-6pmDamn Fine Print 32 North Brunswick Street Stoneybatter

Just when you've had enough of the Easter Rising hype, Will St Leger reappropriates some iconic images to put Irish politics in its place with an exclusive new edition of his Collins Rising print.

Launching on Thursday March 10, there'll be complimentary coctails courtesy of Teeling Whiskey, a free Risograph print of his Banana Republic image for the first 100 in the door, music by Przem and much more.

In St Leger's own words: "Collins and his fellow rebels fought for freedom, they also won us the freedom to satirise and for that I'm grateful"

“For God's sake, give me one free night to be a human being!” exclaimed Michael Collins to his fellow rebels in the 1996 film by Neil Jordan. These words became the starting point for my original Collins stencil entitled, ‘Duty Free State’ ten years ago.

From his early twenties, Michael Collins was involved in the struggle for Irish independence. From fighting in the Easter Rising to the negotiations table at 10 Downing street 6 years later, Collins dedicated his life to the dream of an Irish Republic.

While much has been written about his achievements, I often wondered about what this young Corkonian had to sacrifice to achieve these goals. Ask any committed activist and they will tell you that their cause often comes a personal price. Committed volunteers like Collins never got leisure time, bonuses, holidays or luxury goods. They dedicated their waking hours to defeating their oppressors so others could be set free.

Our little republic is not perfect, but we are not under the dominion of unelected monarchs, we have a constitution and we are free to utilize the tools of democracy, freedom of association, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly. Liberty should never be considered a luxury, it is a fundamental human right.

If Michael had more time after the Civil war, he might have travelled the world, he might have married his sweetheart or raised a family. We might have spotted him striding down the street, shopping bags in hand after buying something nice for himself or girlfriend. My screen print, ‘Duty Free State’ is an aspirational piece of work about a man who missed so much because he cared too much.

Because of men and women like Collins, I enjoy the freedom to satirise icons like him without fear of restriction or the threat of imprisonment and for that I’m grateful.